After taking a line drive off the head in Tuesday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ has been released from a Florida hospital, according to The Washington Times.
In the second inning of their divisional game with the Rays, Happ and the Blue Jays found themselves in a 1-1 tie. With the count 3-1 to Tampa star Desmond Jennings, Happ delivered a pitch that returned to the mound in less than a second.
With virtually no time to react, the 30-year-old lefty was unable to avoid the ball as it struck him on the left side of his head. Down on the ground after suffering a head bruise and cuts to his left ear, Happ was rushed to the hospital in obvious pain.
Issued a statement the next day, Happ seemed emotionally recovered as he thanked fans for their warmth.
"I'm in good spirits," Happ said through the Blue Jays organization. "I definitely appreciate the support of the baseball community. It's been overwhelming the messages and kind word I've been getting. I just want to thank everyone for that, and I look forward to getting back out there soon."
While the line drive sent a chilling silence across the crowd in attendance at Tampa's Tropicana Field, Happ was able to wave to the fans as he was taken off the field.
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Even though Happ's testing at the Bayfront Medical Center upgraded his health status following the hit from fair to good, many of his teammates are still shaken up over what unfolded right in front of their eyes.
"It's devastating. I could barely watch it," Blue jays teammate and 2012 Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey told ESPN. "It paralyzes you a little bit. And when it sounds like two bats, when you hear the sound off the bat and it sounds like it hits another bat, it's scary. I just started praying in the spot. That's all I knew to do."
Happ is expected to fully recover which is certainly good news for the struggling Blue Jays.
Expected to be among the American League elite in 2013 with the offseason additions of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Melky Cabrera and others, Toronto is a dismal 13-21 overall and currently 8 ½ games behind the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox.
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In 7 starts this season, Happ is 2-2 with a 4.91ERA. In 33 innings of work, the lefty has recorded 26 strikeouts while walking 19. Since becoming a major league ballplayer, Happ is 37-37 with a 4.23ERA and 524 strikeouts in 623 total innings.
Wins, losses and records aside, Happ and the Blue Jays should be thankful the injury wasn't something far more serious.
SEE THE J.A. HAPP LINE DRIVE INJURY:
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